Automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids



y 10, 1956 N. CASlGLlANl 2,754,043

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH GASEOUS LIQUIDS Filed Nov. 14, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 uen for I6//0 C'a sy lah 7 W WQ M July 10, 1956 N. CASIGLIANI AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH GASEOUS LIQUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 14; 1951 JMNN ms Inge!) ok &//o 815.3

July 10, 1956 N. CASIGLIANI AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH GASEOUS LIQUIDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 14, 1951 NIH w mm; mu n A Y AW II a. V w A w A w A: L AN 4 w W A A; N I N A A y W s ll W 1 A Aw l wm l I w II w W l l I 1 H M 3: 2 $1... c 1 E A F States AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH GASEOUS LIQUIDS Application November 14, 1951, Serial No. 256,279 Claims priority, application itaiy August 20, 1951 Claims. (Cl. 226-115) This invention relates to an automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids, as for instance beer, carbonated water and the like, said apparatus being automatically opened and closed through the action of the container against a movable part of the apparatus and comprising three piston Valves separated from each other which insure by their interaction the admission of the gas to the container, the admission of the liquid to the container, the outlet of a part of the gas from the container when the filling is completed, and the prevention of any passage of the liquid into the gas ducts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids comprising a stationary body fixed underneath a tank containing the liquid and the gas under pressure to be introduced into a container, said stationary body having a plurality of recesses and bores therein, a cylin drical portion provided with three longitudinal bores each opening into a recess having a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore associated therewith, said recesses being provided in the part of the body abutting against the tank and being in communication with said tank, a socket provided with ducts passing therethrough and provided with piston valves in the form of hollow sliding members projecting from the movable socket in communication with said ducts and arranged to slide in the bores of said stationary body and to extend into said recesses in the stationary body to put into communication the container to be filled and the gas and the liquid contained in the tank.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids of the kind described, wherein the hollow sliding members, which are always in free communication with the container to be filled, are closed at their upper ends and are provided at a certain height with openings suitable for communication with the inside of the said members and the recesses provided in the stationary body into which the members may penetrate and which are in communication with the tank containing the liquid and the gas to be introduced in the container to be filled. The relative height of said openings causes the operation of the successive steps followed in the filling of the container.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids which apparatus may be mounted on any type of bottle filling machine used in commerce.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids of the kind above described wherein means are provided for obtaining the automatic stoppage of the flow of the liquid in the containers when the liquid has reached a predetermined level which is the same for all the containers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an "atent C apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids of the kind above described wherein means are provided for the immediate stoppage of the supply of the liquid if the container is broken.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the apparatus with the tank containing the liquid and the gas to be introduced in the container, removed;

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the apparatus taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the apparatus taken along the line III-J11 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 shows the cross-section of the apparatus taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows the cross-section of the apparatus taken along the line VV of Fig. 1;

Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 diagrammatically show the four characteristic steps of operation of the apparatus.

With reference to the drawing, the apparatus comprises an upper stationary body 1 which is connected to the bottom of a tank 21 containing a liquid and a gas under pressure. The body 1 comprises a cylindical portion on which a sleeve 2 is slidably mounted to move longitudinally to a fixed extent with respect to the body 1. In the cylindrical portion of body 1 three longitudinal bores are provided, each having a diameter greater than that of the bore associated therewith and each of which opens into a recess, respectively 13, 26 and 27, which is in communication with tank 21.

The sleeve 2 contains a socket 7 in which are inserted at from one another three piston valves in the form of sliding members 3, 4, 5, which are hollow and cylindrical and which are closed at their upper ends and which in the upper portion of their cylindical surface are provided with laterally disposed openings 17 for the liquid or for the gases. The sliding members are fixed to the socket 7 by a screw threaded tightening member 6 and are arranged to slide into the three longitudinal bores of the body 1 and to extend into the recesses 19, 26 and 27 when the sleeve moves longitudinally upward with respect to the stationary body 1. In the socket 7 there are provided the ducts 8, 9 and 10 which are positioned in continuation of the hollow cylindrical sliding members 3, 4 and 5 respectively. The duct 10 opens and the ducts 8 and 9 penetrate into the container 22 to be filled. Packing 11 is provided under said socket 7 and packings 14 are disposed between the body 1 and the hollow cylindrical sliding members 3, 4 and 5 to insure both liquid and gas tightness. These packings are shown in Fig. 2 as inserted in the fix body 1, but they may be inserted in the members 3, 4 and 5. A rubber or metal washer 12 is mounted on the upper closed end of each of the members 3, 4 and 5, and insures against losses which otherwise might occur when the apparatus is stationary, i. e. when the various members are at the end of their downward stroke. The recesses 26 and 27 are closed by means of plugs 18 to which the tubes 24 and 25 are connected, which tubes extend above the level of the liquid contained in the tank 21 to reach the dome 23 of the tank in which dome the gas is contained above the liquid. On the upper end of the cylinder 5 is mounted a rubber valve 15 which, when said cylinder has completed its upward stroke in the recess 27, closes the vent 20 of the tube 24 through which, as will be described hereinafter, gas

is admitted in order to insure a predetermined level in the containerto be filled. A screw 16 which is screwed into the body 1 and may slide in a slot in the sleeve 2 prevents the sleeve 2 from being disengaged from the body 1 by effect of a spring 13 or springs which is or are inserted between the body 1 and a socket 6, having the purpose of immediately discontinuing the exit of the liquid and of the gas in case the bottle is broken.

The operation of the apparatus due to the lifting of the container to be filled, is diagrammatically shown in Figs. 6 to 9, wherein, for better illustration, the sliding members 3,. 4 and 5 are shown as arranged in the same plane. In the starting position the openings of the three hollow cylindrical sliding members 3, 4- and 5 are closed and prevent the fluids lowing from the tank 21-, situated above the body 1, toward the container 22 wherein are inserted the tubes 8 and 9 which pass through the socket 7 and are in communication respecti-vely with the member 3' and with the member 4. At the start of the operation, a container elevator of a known type slowly lifts the container 22, and with it the socket 7 and the three sliding members 3, 4 and 5 which are fixed to said socket. As soon as (Fig. 7) the openings of the hollow cylindrical sliding member 5' reach the recess 27, the inside of the container 22 is put in communication with the dome 23 of the tank 21 through a tube 24 connected to the recess 27. Thus the same gas pressure exists in the dome 23 as in the container 22. By continuing the lifting movement of the container 22 the openings 17 of the hollow sliding members 3' and 4 are freed, while the rubber valve closes the vent 20 of the tube 24. Then the liquid can calmly flow from the tank 21 through the recess 19 and the inlet 17 of the member 3 to the tube 8 and thence to the container 22. Simultaneously, the gas flows from the container 22 to the tank 23 through the duct 9, the hollow sliding member 4, the recess 26 and the tube 25. The liquid ceases to flow as soon as the lower end of the duct 9 has been reached, maintaining thus a constant level, whatever container is to be filled.

During the lifting of the container the spring or the springs 13 are compressed and in case the container breaks, the springs, by their expansion, move the socket 7 further from the body 1, bringing all the openings of the sliding members back to their closed position, thus stopping the flow of the fluids.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing, from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. Automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids comprising in combination a tank containing, a liquid and a gas under pressure, a container to be filled with said liquid and said gas, a stationary body fixed underneath said tank and connected thereto, said stationary body having a cylindrical. portion provided with three longitudinal bores spaced at 120 from each other and with three recesses, each longitudinal bore opening into a recess, said recesses having a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore associated therewith, a socket arranged in movable spring controlled relation with respect to the stationary body, the said socket being provided with a plurality of ducts spaced from each other, a plurality of piston valves in the form of hollow sliding members which project from the socket arranged as a continuation of the said ducts, said. hollow sliding members sliding in the said bores in the stationary body and extending into the said recesses, and means in the upper part of said hollow sliding members for insuring their successive communication between said container and said tank when said socket is raised, toward said stationary body by the raising; of said. container.

2-; Automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids, comprising in combination a tank containinga liquid and a gas under pressure, a container to be filled with said liquid and said gas, a stationary body fixed underneath said tank and connected thereto, said stationary body having a cylindrical portion provided with three longitudinal bores spaced at from each other and with three recesses, each longitudinal bore opening into a recess, said recess having a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore associated therewith, one of said recesses being in communication with the liquid contained in said tank and the other two recesses each being provided with a tube extending through the liquid to the upper zone of the tank wherein the gas is contained, a socket arranged in movable spring controlled relation with respect to the stationary body, said socket being provided with three ducts spaced at 120 from each other, three piston valves in the form of hollow cylindrical sliding members which project from the movable socket, each of said hollow sliding members being arranged as a continuation of one of the said ducts and extending into said longitudinal bores and sliding therein, the upper ends of said hollow cylindrical members extending into said recesses and having openings in the upper portion preventing communication between said tank and said container when said openings are contained in said longitudinal bores and permitting communication between said tank and said container when the upper portion of said hollow sliding members provided with openings extend into said recesses of the stationary body, and resilient means operated by the said container for controlling the movement of the socket from the said stationary body.

3. Automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseons liquids, comprising in combination a tank containing a liquid and a gas under pressure, a container to be filled with said liquid and said gas, a stationary body fixed underneath said tank and connected thereto, said stationary body having a cylindrical portion provided with three longitudinal bores spaced at 120 from each other and with three recesses, each longitudinal bore opening into a recess, the recesses having a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore associated therewith, said recesses being provided in the part of the body which abuts against the tank, one of said recesses being in communication with the liquid contained in said tank and the other two recesses each being provided with a tube extending through the liquid in the said tank to the upper zone of the tank wherein the gas is contained, a socket arranged in movable spring controlled relation with respect to the stationary body, said socket being provided with three ducts angularly spaced at 120 from each other, three piston valves in the form of hollow cylindrical sliding members which project from the said socket, each arranged as a continuation of said ducts and extending into one of said bores and sliding therein, the upper ends of said sliding members extending into said recesses to a predetermined extent when the socket approaches the stationary body, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding said stationary body and said socket, said sleeve being fastened to said socket to slide to a predetermined extent on the said stationary body and to limit the greatest distance the socket may move from the stationary body, said sliding members being closed in the upper part thereof which penetrates into the recesses of the stationary body and being provided in the upper portion of their cylindrical surface with openings located at a different height in each sliding member and arranged to prevent communication between said tank and said container when said sliding members are contained in said bores in the stationary body and to permit communication between said tank and said container when the upper portion of said sliding member extends into said recesses in the stationary body, and resilient means operated by said container for controlling the movement of the socket from the said stationary body.

4. Automatic apparatus for filling containers with gasliquids, comprising in combination a tank containliquid and a gas under pressure, a container to be with said liquid and said gas, a stationary body fixed underneath said tank and connected thereto, said stationary body having a cylindrical portion provided with three longitudinal bores angularly spaced at 120 from each other and three recesses, each longitudinal bore opening into a recess, the recesses having a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore associated therewith, said recesses being provided in the part of the body which abuts against the tank, one of said recesses being in communication with the liquid contained in said tank and the other two recesses each being provided with a tube extending through the liquid in said tank and extending to the upper zone of the tank wherein the gas is contained, a socket arranged in movable spring controlled relation with respect to the stationary body, the socket being provided with three ducts angularly spaced at 120 from each other, three piston valves in the form of hollow cylindrical sliding members which project from the socket, each of said members being arranged as a continuation of said ducts, said members sliding in said bores in said stationary body and extending into said recesses to a predetermined extent when the socket approaches the stationary body, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding both the stationary body and the socket and being fastened to the socket, said sleeve being arranged to slide at a predetermined extent on the said stationary body and to limit the greatest distance the socket may move from the stationary body, said sliding members being closed in the upper part thereof which extends into the recesses in the stationary body and being provided in the upper portion of their cylindrical surface with openings located at a different height in each cylinder for preventing communication between said tank and said container when said sliding members are contained in said longitudinal bores and for permitting communication between said tank and said container when the upper portion of said sliding members extend into said recesses in the stationary body, the sliding member having the openings at the greatest height of the said three members being arranged to close with its upper closed portion the communication between the corresponding recess of the stationary body and the upper zone of the tank wherein the gas is present when the openings in the upper portion of the cylindrical surface of the other two members are in such a position to maintain communication between said tank and said container.

5. Automatic apparatus for filling containers with gaseous liquids, comprising in combination a tank containing a liquid and a gas under pressure, a container to be filled with said liquid and said gas, a stationary body fixed underneath said tank and connected thereto, said stationary body having a cylindrical portion provided with three longitudinal bores angularly spaced at 120 from each other and with three recesses, each of said recesses being in communication with the liquid contained in said tank and the other two recesses each being provided with a tube extending through the liquid in said tank to the upper zone of the tank wherein the gas is contained, each longitudinal bore opening into a recess, the recesses having a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore associated therewith, said recesses being provided in the part of the body which abuts against the tank, a socket arranged in movable spring controlled relation with respect to the stationary body, said socket being provided with three ducts angularly spaced at from each other, three piston valves in the form of hollow cylindrical sliding members Which project from the socket as a continuation of the said three ducts, each of said members sliding in one of the bores of the said stationary body and extending into said recesses to a predetermined extent when the socket approaches the stationary body, a cylindrical sleeve surrounding both the stationary body and the socket, said sleeve being arranged to slide at a predetermined extent on the said stationary body, said sliding members being closed in the upper part thereof which penetrate into the recesses and being provided in the upper portion of their cylindrical surface with openings located at a diiferent height in each member for preventing communication between said tank and said container when said sliding members are contained in said bores and for permitting communication between said tank and said container when the upper portion of said sliding member extends into said recesses, the sliding member having the openings at the greatest height of the said three members extending into one of the said two recesses which is in communication with the upper zone of the tank containing the gas and being the first member which opens the communication between the container and the gas contained in the tank to permit the inlet of the gas into the container, said first sliding member closing with its upper closed portion the communication between the corresponding recess of the stationary body and the gas contained in the tank when the openings made in the upper portion or" the cylindrical surface of the other two sliding members extending into their recess open the communication between said container and the liquid and the gas contained in the tank, one of the other two members last mentioned being the second member which opens communication between the container and the gas contained in the tank to permit the outflow of the gas from the container, the said duct associated with said second member opening into the container at a height corresponding to the level of the liquid to be reached in the container when the container is filled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,442 Schneider June 14, 1904 2,104,454 Filss Jan. 4-, 1938 2,118,436 Kantor May 24, 1938 2,154,583 Rogers Apr. 18, 1939 

1. AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH GASEOUS LIQUIDS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A TANK CONTAINING A LIQUID AND A GAS UNDER PRESSURE, A CONTAINER TO BE FILLED WITH SAID LIQUID AND SAID GAS, A STATIONARY BODY FIXED UNDERNEATH SAID TANK AND CONNECTED THERETO, SAID STATIONARY BODY HAVING A CYLINDRICAL PORTION PROVIDED WITH THREE LONGITUDINAL BORES SPACED AT 120* FROM EACH OTHER AND WITH THREE RECESSES, EACH LONGITUDINAL BORE OPENING INTO A RECESS, SAID RECESSES HAVING A DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE BORE ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, A SOCKET ARRANGED IN MOVABLE SPRING CONTROLLED RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE STATIONARY BODY, THE SAID SOCKET BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF DUCTS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER, A PLURALITY OF PISTON VALVES IN THE FORM OF HOLLOW SLIDING MEMBERS WHICH PROJECT FROM THE SOCKET ARRANGED AS A CONTINUATION OF THE SAID DUCTS, SAID HOLLOW SLIDING MEMBERS SLIDING IN THE SAID BORES IN THE STATIONARY BODY AND EXTENDING INTO THE SAID RECESSES, AND MEANS IN THE UPPER PART OF SAID HOLLOW SLIDING MEMBERS FOR INSURING THEIR SUCCESSIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER AND SAID TANK WHEN SAID SOCKET IS RAISED TOWARD SAID STATIONARY BODY BY THE RAISING OF SAID CONTAINER. 